ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Where is the error (if any)?

ngngmaiphuong — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:33:57 GMT

So what about 'one of us can submit...'? The tense seems not to agree with those of other sentences.

Re: Where is the error (if any)?

Huevos — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:24:12 GMT

Past perfect is fine here. There was a simple past tense event which the "had intended" preceded: "[there were] space constraints".

Re: Where is the error (if any)?

Yoong Liat — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:39:47 GMT

ngngmaiphuong
however, my book somehow shows me that there is no problem with this sentences

these

Re: Where is the error (if any)?

ngngmaiphuong — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:40:35 GMT

Avangi
The only problem I see is a small one, possibly logical. When you say, "I've been invited to write for the newspaper," it's understood to mean on a regular basis. As we read on, we find that the invitation would have been for a one-time piece, on one particular occasion. In this case, we'd say, "intended to invite both you and me to submit articles for [possible] publication in his newspaper," or something like that.

Also, the punch line is missing. How did the editor solve his problem? When you use the past perfect, there's supposed to be a simple past tense event which the "had intended" preceded. Tune in tommorrow to see who will submit an article.

- A.

I completely agree with you about the tense error; however, my book somehow shows me that there is no problem with this sentences. That may be a printing error.

Thank you for replying

Re: Where is the error (if any)?

Avangi — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:25:52 GMT

The only problem I see is a small one, possibly logical. When you say, "I've been invited to write for the newspaper," it's understood to mean on a regular basis. In the case of a one-time assignment, you might say, "I've been invited to write something / a piece / an article for the newspaper."

As we continue reading your sentence, we find that the invitation would have been for a one-time piece, on one particular occasion. In this case, we'd say, "intended to invite both you and me to submit articles for [possible] publication in his newspaper," or something like that.

Also, the punch line is missing. How did the editor solve his problem? When you use the past perfect, there's supposed to be a simple past tense event which the "had intended" preceded: "So the editor decided that only one of us can submit an article." OR " . . . ; However, because of space constraints, the editor decided that . . . . " Tune in tommorrow to see who will submit an article.

- A.

Where is the error (if any)?

ngngmaiphuong — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:08:56 GMT

The editor had intended to invite both you and me to write for his newspaper; however, because of space constraints, only one of us can submit an article.

If there is an error in this sentences (underlined words or phrases), please help me show it.